A teenager who left a delivery driver fearing for his life when he aimed a BB gun at him has avoided being locked up.

Judge Neil Davey QC told 19-year-old Samuel Hemingway that he had behaved "like a nine-year-old" during the incident in September and his victim must have been absolutely terrified.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson told Bradford Crown Court today (Tues) that Rohail Iqbal had been making a night-time delivery in the Mixenden Road area of Halifax when he was confronted by Hemingway who took out a black handgun and pointed it straight at him with his outstretched arm.

In his statement Mr Iqbal said the incident lasted about 20 seconds and he thought the gunman was going to kill him.

"I can't understand why he did this to me," he said.

"I'm frightened to do my job now, especially in the dark."

The court heard that police responded to the reported firearms incident and after a female officer and her colleague spotted Hemingway in the area she managed to detain him after ordering him to get down on the ground.

Mr Nicholson said Hemingway did try to resist saying:"I haven't got anything on me. It's in the bushes up there."

Judge Davey ordered the destruction of the BB gun which was recovered by the police and Hemingway, who was previously cautioned for having an offensive weapon on school premises March 2015, pleaded guilty at a previous heating to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

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In his basis of plea he suggested that he had been going to the woods to do target practice with the BB gun and there had been an exchange of words with the complainant.

Hemingway, of Seed Hill Terrace, Mixenden, claimed that he pointed the gun at Mr Iqbal to get him to back off and he never intended to use it.

Barrister Joanne Shepherd, for Hemingway, said he deeply regretted his actions that night and he was ashamed of his behaviour.

"He would, if the complainant wanted to hear from him, apologise to him," she said.